Teachers sign petition calling for pro-Palestine action to stop in schools

A group of teachers have signed a petition calling on the state government to take urgent action against those participating in the pro-Palestine movement in schools.

Teachers have started their pro-Palestine action in schools, with platters of watermelon and political filers.

A group of teachers have signed a petition calling on the state government to take urgent action against those participating in the pro-Palestine movement in schools, saying the educators involved should face disciplinary action.

The petition, with almost 6000 signatures, says the group of union-aligned teachers taking part in the pro-Palestine action are in breach of Victorian Teaching Profession’s Code of Conduct.

The petition said Jewish students were feeling marginalised when their teachers encouraged the class to “demonise Israel”.

“Jewish children throughout the state of Victoria are already feeling afraid, victimised and alienated for events overseas for which they obviously carry no responsibility,” the petition said.

“Their classrooms must be somewhere they feel safe, included and understood.”

It comes as a group of educators have planned to take part in a Zoom meeting next week, which will include several Palestinian historians that will speak about the war in Gaza.

Teachers started their pro-Palestine action in schools last week, with school staff to wear keffiyehs in the classroom and invite Palestinian advocates to their school.

Educators and staff involved in the movement have extended the campaign to continue this week.

Siana, a teacher in Melbourne’s east, who has signed the petition, said those participating in the pro-Palestine movement in schools were in breach of the teaching code of conduct.

“The teachers taking part in this should face disciplinary action or have their teaching licenses revoked,” she said.

“We’ve seen from the demonstrations every Sunday, the distortions and lies that are being spread about Israel is shocking.

“The opens the floodgates of indoctrination at school, what’s to stop anyone from bringing in any of their political agendas or personal biases into the classroom.”

The petition further added: “Teachers cannot be given free rein to use educational platforms such as the AEU to further personal and one-sided agendas.”

“If teachers are enabled to carry out these actions in schools, a precedent is set for indoctrination about other political agendas as well.

“Teachers involved in organising and participating in this ‘Week of Action’ are in breach of the Victorian Teaching Profession’s Code of Conduct.”

The week of action was slammed by Education Minister Ben Carroll, labelling it as “inflammatory, divisive action”.

Mr Carroll said teachers who took such action could face penalties from the Education Department but he was hopeful it wouldn’t get to that.

Dr Michelle Meyer, president of Maoz, whose organisation works in partnership with the Jewish Community to protect children, also said last week the state government needed to enforce stronger child safety standards to protect Jewish children confronted by the AEU’s pro-Palestine campaign.

Meanwhile, secondary students are once again planning to protest in Melbourne’s CBD on Thursday as part of the second School Strike for Palestine at Flinders St station.

A Department of Education spokesman said: “The overwhelming majority of principals and school staff continue to do an excellent job – as they have done since the events of 7 October - in supporting their school communities through what continues to be for so many a deeply distressing time.”

“Our first priority continues to be supporting the wellbeing of staff, students and families affected by the events in the Middle East,” he said.